Vapor electric device



Jan. 1, 1957 A. P. COLAIACO 2,776,392

VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE Filed Oct. 16. 1952 a 54 g; H 1 as 52 3 .37

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2,776,392 VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE August P. Colaiaco, Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application October 16, 1952, Serial No. 315,001 2 Claims. (Cl. 313-171) This invention relates to a vapor-electric device and, more specifically, to means for maintaining an operating level of cathode material in such devices.

In the operation of vapor-electric devices used in installations, such as vehicles, which are subjected to various types of shocks, it has been practically impossible to prevent, some of the cathode material from being thrown from the open pool and displaced throughout the interior of the device, although various provisions have been designed to dampen this efiect. During violent shocks it has been found that the cathode material may be dispersed from the pool to an extent that the igni tors and the auxiliary anodes are temporarily shorted, by flying mercury or become open due to the depletion of the mercury pool, or both, rendering. the tube inoperative until sufiicient cathode material has been returned to provide the proper ignitor immersion for firing. As the construction of these devices did not provide a direct and expeditious return path for the displaced cathode material, this shorted or open condition prevailed for periods up to five seconds in duration, reducing the efliciency of the device and hampering the operation of the circuit in which the device was located.

In addition to the circuitous return path for the displaced cathode material, condensation of the material along the wall of the container around such obstacles as lead-in connections and supports for the auxiliary electrodes not only delayed the return of the cathode material, but subjected these fittings to the environment of the cathode material which reduced their efiectiveness. For example, it has been found that some of the flying cathode material lodges between the glass-Kovar bu'shings and their respective heat shields causing shorts and destroying their insulating properties and rendering their respective ignitor or auxiliary inoperative. The accumulaton of the mercury on these fittings causes a corresponding decrease in. the level of the cathode material inthe pool. Apart from the mechanical stresses that are created by shocks, the dispersion of the cathode material in various unexpected parts of the tube intensifies other electrical stresses.

During the operation of the device graphite dust, appatently produced by erosion of the graphite anodes and grids, gradually accumulates on the insulators and bushings. which reduces the insulating properties and. shortens the operating, life of the device by rendering, the auxiliary anodes inoperative; To minimize these effects, the surfaces of the insulators and bushings have been shaded by molybdenum shields, but these detrimental conditions have persisted nevertheless.

Accordingly, one of the principal objects of this invention is to' provide a smooth and: direct path for the return of the cathode material to the pool. A. correlative object is to: expedite the return of: the cathode material to the pool: and thereby maintain the pool at proper operating level.

Further objects are to increase the life of the vaporelectric device: by isolating the various parts of the tube from the detrimental eiiects of thedisplaced cathode material and other foreign matter that may be present; to direct the displaced cathode material for more elfective deflection back tothepool; and to-provide a device which is simple and easy toinstall.

Patented Jan. 1, 1957 These and other objects of this invention will be apparent from the drawings and the detailed description.

The above described objects are accomplished by an enclosure attached along its upper end to the periphery of an inner wall oi. a vapor electric device intermediate the anode and cathode pool, and extending longitudinally to the cathode pool at the base of the device. The enclosure forms a protective inverted umbrella over the electrode support around which the flow of displaced cathode material is conventionally diverted and impeded on its way down to the pool. The enclosure has a multiplicity of functions. Firstly, it forms a direct path over, and not around, the electrode supports which expedites the restoration of the level of cathode material in the pool; secondly, it isolates the electrode supports :Erom the cathode material preventing the formation of subsidiary cathode spots, as well as isolating these supports from graphite dust discussed above; and thirdly, the enclosure directs the displaced cathode material that is flung out of the pool to be more efiectively deflected and expeditiously returned to the pool. The above functions contribute to improve the operating characteristics of the vapor electric device and materially increase the service which it is able to render.

Fig. l is a sectional elevation of the lower portion of one type of electric vapor device incorporating the enclosure; Fig. 2 a section taken along line IL-II in Fig. l, and Fig.3 a partial sectional view of a modified enclosure.

In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, the conventional vapor electric device or tube 6 comprises an evacuate'd container 8, usually made of suitable metal, having mounted at the upper end a graphite anode 10 surrounded by anode shields 12,. 14- and 16,-. and at the bottom end a cup 18, containing a pool of cathode material 20 of vaporizable liquid, such' as mercury. A molybdenum mesh screen 21 may be positioned in cup 18 to dampen the movement of the mercury pool when the device is subject to shocks. A hollow cylindrical cleaner 22 is mounted concentrically within cup 18 forming an annular space 24 therebetween to strain any foreign matter in the mercury which drains into the pool from inside the container along a header 26 and through a recess 28 in the periphery of cup 18, which is below a corresponding recess 29 in cleaner 22'.

The starting electrodes or ignitors 30- are positioned to be immersed in the mercury pool and they are supported at their upper ends by horizontal arms 32 clamped to zircon-support insulators 34 which are fixed by bolts 36 to header 2'6. Insulators 34 also serve as mounting for the auxiliary electrodes 37 which are positioned in. intmediate proximity tothe mercury surface. The lead-in connections 38 for i gnitors 30 are mounted to glass-Kovar entrance bushings 44 which extend through header 26 at a location independent of insulators 34.

It has been suggested by the prior art that insulators 34 be provided with molybdenum cap nuts 44 and shields 46, and bushings 40' be provided with a molybdenum shield 48 and steel shield 50 to prevent the mercury that is thrown from the pool by violent shocks, as Well as the mercury condensate formed through normal operations of the device, from beinglodged on these parts to create cathode spots that reduce the life'- of' the vapor electric device; These shields were also designed to prevent a formation of graphite dust on the insulators and bushings from the eroded anodes which coating bridged theinsulation and caused short circuit conditions; However, in practice theindividual shielding of these" component parts proved tobe ineffective and the prior detrimental conditions prevailed despite these precautions. Of course, the use of t-l'tes'e shields did not in any way'help to accelerate the re turn of thedisplaced mercury to raise the operating 3 level after the tube was subjected to the shock, and this problem remained unsolved.

In the present invention all of these difficulties, as well as others not specifically detailed, are overcome by the provisions of an enclosure member 52 which, as will become apparent, is capable of avoiding the necessity of these individual molybdenum covers while at the same time acting as a positive means to maintain the operating level of the cathode material in the pool. Enclosure 52, preferably, is tubularly shaped being constructed with an open-ended, downwardly converging conical portion 54, and a depending substantially vertical cylindrical portion 5 of a reduced diameter forming a funnel-shaped partition, the latter having an open-end mounted in juxtaposition with the upper and open end of cup 18 to form an uninterrupted passageway for the return mercury flow. The upper and larger periphery of conical portion 54 is of a slightly smaller diameter than the container 8 and is rigidly attached along the periphery of the inner container wall intermediate the anode and cathode by wall flange 58 which insures a sealed connection to the flow of mercury returning to pool 20 downwardly along the inner wall of the container. Vertical portion 56 of the enclosure terminates in an open end that is substantially conterminous with the cathode pool, either as an extension of cup 18 or in juxtaposition therewith, and the wall is provided with transverse openings 60 through which project supporting arms 32 for ignitors 30 and auxiliary anodes 37. In this construction enclosure 52 is made of thin insulating material.

In the event of a shock transmitted to the device, vertical portion 56 is of a suflicient height to direct any displaced mercury from the pool directly against a discshaped cathode baflie 62 which deflects the mercury back to the pool by the shortest path and with a minimum lapse of time. According to my prior Patent No. 2,447,637, the disc bafiie may be suspended by supports 64 from a downwardly sloped baffle ring 66 which is welded or otherwise attached to the wall of container 8. The bafiie ring serves to retard the upward flow of displaced mercury along the wall of the container and avoid possible contact with anode 10, but the slope of the ring permits the downward flow of condensed mercury vapor gravitating back to the pool. During the functioning of vertical portion 56 of the enclosure, conical portion 54 forms a protective partition over support insulators 34, bushings 40 and associated parts, providing a smooth return path for the displaced mercury which formerly followed a devious path on header 26 around these insulators. As the mercury has a shorter and smoother path to follow, it is able to return to the pool to restore the operating level with greater rapidity, and the loss of operating time, because of an open circuited tube, is materially reduced, if not completely eliminated. The enclosure in effect seals the insulators from the deleterious etfects of the mercury, as well as graphite dust which have caused the insulators of prior devices to be short circuited.

The modified enclosure 68, shown in Fig. 3, is similar to enclosure 52, with the exception that the enclosure is constructed of two parts of different material instead of an integral construction. The conical portion 70, is formed of a suitable sheet metal and welded at 72, or otherwise attached, along its periphery to the inner container wall 74 to form an impervious connection to the mercury flow, whereas, the vertical cylindrical portion 76, as in the prior construction, is made of insulating material supported at its base on the header 78 adjacent the cup 80. The lower edge of conical portion 70, preferably, extends inwardly beyond the upper edge of vertical portion 76 forming a lip 82 extending over the pool and directly into which the draining mercury may drip.

By utilizing my enclosures in vapor electric devices, I have greatly improved the operation of these devices in a simple and expeditious manner. Each portion of the enclosure has a definite function which cooperate to give a unitary result. Thus, the enlarged conical portion of the enclosure isolates the various insulators by forming a protective hood which simultaneously furnishes the smoothest and shortest path for the mercury as it drains back to the pool at the bottom of the tube. The vertical portion of the enclosure directs and concentrates the mercury as it is flung out of the pool by the shock against the disc bafiie from which it may be effectively deflected back to the pool directly or along the conical portion; and also decreases the tendency of the mercury to splash out of the pool. Accordingly, by shortening and smoothening the path for the return mercury flow the operating level is restored faster, and a greater volume is eventually returned to the pool. The enclosure may be constructed of metal or insulating material, and if desired as a manufacturing expedient may be made integral with the cup forming a continuation thereof. The baffle ring may also be made integral with the upper open end of the conical portion of the enclosure which may be extended to support the baflle ring in the desired position within the device.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

I claim:

1. A vapor electric device comprising an evacuated container provided at one end with a cup for containing cathode material, an electrode projecting into said cup, supporting means for said electrode, an anode spaced longitudinally from said cup, and an enclosure disposed between said anode and cathode for directing displaced cathode material, said enclosure having one end portion formed into a return-flow funnel secured along its major diameter to said container, the other end portion being formed into an elongate cylinder extending from said funnel into said cup, said cylindrical portion being spaced concentrically from said container for providing a protected enclosed area between the container and the enclosure, and the walls of said cylindrical portion having a vertical disposition adapted to direct displaced cathode material longitudinally through the container, said electrode supporting means being protectively mounted in said enclosed area and including an electrode supporting arm extending inwardly from the enclosed area through said cylindrical portion of the enclosure.

2. A vapor electric device comprising an evacuated container provided at one end with a cup for containing cathode material, an electrode projecting into said cup, supporting means for said electrode, an anode spaced longitudinally from said cup, an enclosure disposed between said anode and cathode for directing displaced cathode material, and an umbrella form bafile disposed over said enclosure and the anode, said enclosure having one end portion formed into a return-flow funnel secured along its major diameter to said container, the other end portion being formed into an elongate cylinder extending from said funnel into said cup, said cylindrical portion being spaced concentrically from said container for providing a protected enclosed area between the container and the enclosure, and the walls of said cylindrical portion having a vertical disposition adapted to direct displaced cathode material longitudinally through the container toward said baffle, said electrode supporting means being protectively mounted in said enclosed area and including an electrode supporting arm extending inwardly from the enclosed area through said cylindrical portion of the enclosure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,872,376 Widmer Aug. 16, 1932 2,430,653 Steinberg Nov. 11, 1947 2,447,637 Colaiaco Aug. 24, 1948 LII 

